Etsy

I have been busy this morning posting new quilts, and bedding stuff for kiddos. I thought I would pass along the info on here. I need to find a way to showcase all my quilts, but until then here are a few pictures , well there would be but I seem to have done this wrong! You can find them for sale on ETSY.

I decided I needed to showcase something others than quilts, so now there are pillowcases and fitted crib sheets on etsy also.

I am really starting to love my custom quilts. I mean they stress me a bit in the beginning. Figuring out what pattern works with the fabric, how to start quilting, and how to make it super personal. But in the end they are totally worth it. The quilting on the Minky is it's own little stress ball, because you can see so much. But it's fun because I can write while I quilt and insert special messages, or even quotes from books. Check out my pink and gray chevron quilt to see what I mean. Or the Iowa state quilt.

Running TiMe!

So it is official. I just signed up for TWO races. The first is in March in a little town near here. It's only a 5K. (I laugh at myself for putting only, because 10years ago it would have been 'only', only now... 3.1miles might not feel so nice). The second is a big ol' Half Marathon!! I am super excited about it too!! It's not till Aug. which gives me nice spring/summer training time.
Here's the link
Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon

Jason's cousin is supposed to do it too. She is doing the full triple crown, which is 3 halfs over the course of 5 months. But it's a bit of a drive, and well, let's be honest, one might just be enough. Of course if all goes as 'planned' (brahhhahaha) I should be planning a half near here in October too. But one little 13.1 mile run at a time.

We might have 6more weeks of winter, but shoot, spring is coming and I need to get running!!

Anyone want to join me? :-)

Lists and such

Hey y'all! So I am in the midist of mid-winter restlessness. The past three days I have made lists, checked things off lists, and tried to get caught-up on a LOT of things.

I had totally forgotten how hard it was to make butter, so that got put off for another week or so. But otherwise things have been going well. I have tried to make an effort to make dinner the past few nights. Tonight was a bit of a bummer deal though. I had "planned" for smoked whole chicken. Yeah. The man of the house didn't make it home in time to get said chicken in the smoker though, and I had to make a quick run to town. I could have scrapped the entire idea, but instead went for roasted chicken. Hopefully we are all not so cranky that we can actually enjoy it (2hours later than planned).

As for that list, I have been wanting to do a Quilt-A-Long. And I think I found one to use up a few scraps from another quilt. I will post pictures soonish. But here is the link if you are feeling 'quilty' and want to try it with me.

http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/p/quilt-longs.html

YAY!

See ya soon. I've got a baby yelling at me :-)

M

2013 the year of Isaac.

Well there are a lot of "end of the year" blog post going on out there. Really cute ones with slideshows of all the things you have made and how much your kids have grown. I should probably do that, however it would take a while to compose, so I think I'll just stick to the highlights and my goals (gasp!) for this year.  Above is a short little clip of Isaac at 9months, and his photo. That's pretty good right??

I did a LOT of sewing before Isaac was born. I think I did 5 or 6 quilts. A few for friends, a few still in a box waiting to be quilted. I was bored and needed (as in almost ready to have a baby, and NEEDED to finish some things...anything to distract me from actually getting worried/nervous about the up-coming baby). Some were big (like Keely's) others were baby size (actually a LOT were baby size, hahaah, i guess I had babies on my mind). At any rate, Isaac came in March, and I think I quit blogging/sewing/cleaning/cooking/ etc around about then. I coached Aug-October. And slowly got my head above water in November, when I started buying fabric again. Jason thinks I've gone crazy the past few weeks. But with all the 'end of year' deals, a quilter cannot help but try to cash in on the bargins (right?).

Today was the first time in about two months that I have pasteurized milk. I am hoping to try to make a bit of butter or mozzarella cheese out of some of it. Since I cleaned yesterday it's all in my order of things to get the house all messy again today :-p Does anyone else do that? I have been making a lot of bread lately too. It started as Christmas gifts, but out of need I've been making us a few loafs too. Not sure if they go faster because they are smaller, or if it's because I seem to snack on fresh bread/toast all day. That's about my extent of craftiness/homemaker mode. Even though we have eggs coming out our ears, I am not real keen on cooking the things. I think I am phasing out of cooking mode. For some reason quick and easy triumphs over 30min meals, and other than eating scrambled eggs, there's not much that sounds good with them that doesn't require an hour of prep/cook time.

One of my favorite Great Aunts passed away just before Christmas, and another earlier in the year. Both were highly influencial in my craftiness. Audrey taught me how to crochet, and though I don't make a lot of things this days, the fact that the craft is known is an amazing gift. Aunt Dot (or Dorthy) taught me how to cross stitch, and the joy in perfect applesauce. I learned from both the beauty of handmade gifts, and the hardiness needed to do the things that need to get done and to find joy in the things you want to get done.
 
So in a way that's my goal for this year. To focus on getting the jobs done that need to. And keeping the joy in the things I want too. (And not to get too worried over the things that stay in the 'to be done' pile).

Right now I better get lunch on the table for two little boys, and see if a little bit of 'joy' sewing can happen today :-)

Full/Queen Zebra Quilt- 90x90

We used a dark variegated thread that would let the quilting pattern POP!

New fluff

A few days ago I ordered some new diapers for Isaac, and they came today!!! Look at the pretty or should I say handsome colors. I hope he likes them. They are bum genius newest colors and the new freetime diapers. Yay!!

Garden and babies

Well trying to get a garden in the ground with a newborn is about as easy as it sounds. However Jackson was actually a big help and we got peas (3 varieties), carrots ( purple and orange), onions (red) , lettuce, and spinach!!! If nothing else that should be enough to last us for a while:) Isaac liked being outside, so that was a lucky break, even if I do only get an hour and a half of work/ fussy time.

I will try to post pictures once veggies start popping up.

In other news we are getting chicks today!!! 50 cornish cross broiler birds, and 12 golden sex link pullets ( hens). Yeah, it's going to be busy around here for sure!

New baby...new delimas

Hello! For all those interested we are now the proud parents of TWO little boys. Jackson, whom most know by now is 3.5, and baby Isaac Charles born March 5th!! He is officially a week old now, and it's pretty exciting/challenging. Luckily my mom is here...not so luckily she got a flu like bug just after she got here. I just pray (literally) that we all don't get it. She's on antibiotics now and I hope we are over the worst. Of course having a newborn is the true challenge. Especially with my very LOUD 3.5yr old. That's the biggest challenge yet...trying to get him to use an 'inside voice'...one he has never had to use before. It's our own fault. I never really noticed before until I had a sleeping newborn. All in all though we are surviving. I keep thinking I would like to sew a little, but alas no luck yet. Too busy holding a baby, quite-ing Jackson, and eating/sleeping. Maybe in a month???? or year???

Till then I'll try to post a few pictures of the baby, when I get them uploaded!

Mary

Gray and Fushia Baby Quilt

Are these the colors you were thinking?

Expenses and Incomes...OUCH

Since today is "office day" (as officially declared by me), I thought I should do some up-dating. Tax time is just around the corner and my wonderful hubby asked me to ''sit down' and get all my sewing/quilting receipts in line'. As well as what I might have sold this year. Needless to say I wasn't thrilled with the prospect. As most of you who are fabric lovers know... we tend to buy WAY more fabric than things we sell. I mean it's hardly never that I have list of things sold and no fabric in the house to make it with. It's 99.9% of the time that I pre-buy fabric, make something, and then try to sell it. Occasionally (humm. maybe 99.0%) that I pre-buy fabric in the *hopes* of making something to sell, only to realize that I am too busy to make it then, forget about it, and buy more (oops) :-) Since I am nearing the end of my pregnancy I have felt the to need to make a LOT of those such projects. I finished 3 last week!!! Of course two of them I labeled on Etsy as 'custom' quilts. So realistically they are far from done, more in limbo. But that's ok. The fabrics have been cut and used, and what was leftover has been stashed away for a scrap quilt.

(pictured are the projects I have finished in the past 3 months. It's a lot...I'm nesting. There is a least one more that is not pictured)
What I have found is worse is that many of these fabrics I had set aside for one project, realize I want them for a second project, and HAVE to make the first (or at least cut it out) before I can even start on the second. Which creates a bit of a back log. Either way, my expenses for last year really added up. My income...well not so much. Other than the amazing miracle of sale of a really large quilt, I've mostly sold a few bags here and there. Not a lot to shout about. However they did pay off a few bills so that was nice. To be honest, though, I'm not sure where to go from here. I love to buy fabric. I enjoy making projects. But the expenses of it all far out number the incomes. I guess for now I will keep making gifts, keep posting what I can on Etsy, and hope that 2013 is the year I get more orders. If nothing else we'll have a new little one in a few weeks and I can blame any fabric purchases on 'nesting' needs...right? heheheh.

Wow 5 months...

What the heck? Seriously? Have I been that lazy? I guess so. It's been a little busy and little lazy around here the past few months. Highlights?? Well there are a few.
1. I will blame everything on pregnant brain. Yep that's right. I'm 5months along, 4 to go! Pregnancy is no picnic around here. Hormonal, nauseous, tired, hungry, heartburn, more tired, more nauseous mess. However we are happy and Jackson is thrilled (we'll see how long that last after the baby is born). All in all it's good, very good.
2.Cross Country. I was assistant coach this year :-) We had a team make it to State!! And a lot of great memories for me and I hope the rest of the team.
3.Sewing projects! Well. What can i say. I have made lots, not taken nearly enough pictures, and sold or gifted just about all of it. (More gifts than sales).Oh and I got a NEW sewing machine!!! (The motherboard in mine died, so I splurged! Janome MC11000k!! She's a beauty!

10 days till Thanksgiving, and I am more than greatful for my little family and my new sewing machine. Not to mention the wonderful harvest we had and all the other joys. This is starting to ramble...I must be hungry again :-)

Here are some pictures to sum things up:-)

Running Camp

I think running camp was a success, if I must say it, I will..."IT WAS GREAT!". Though I didn't run but once, with Jackson, up a small portion of a hill...the kids did run, a lot, and I think for the most part enjoyed it. Was it difficult? I hope so, I think so. Was it too difficult? No. Maybe not enough. But then again, we didn't want to completely scare them away. We ran lots of hills, both in daily runs, and hill repeat day. It was good. Hills are something that every runner must battle, and to despise them only (in my mind) makes you a weaker runner. They give you a challenge, and afterwards gives you a blessed reward. Doing them 6x might seem killer, but really it's mother-natures weight room. Your body against gravity. The 10k at the end of camp was by far the best. I am a proud 'momma'. I hate that run. It seems so fun to start with, but the last 'false flat' at the end gets me every time. I'm glad to know you kids (girls + Kade) ran it well...though maybe a few too many water breaks for some.

It's hard to give a top runner award, since everyone finished, and everyone was smiling (well afterwards anyway). Just think, you kids just ran more than 70% of America...ok I just made that up, but I'm sure it's close.

My awards this week go to multiple peps.
1. Kade, who was the solo male on many mornings and managed to KILL the 10k. It appears you most certainly should run XC afterall.
2.Becca- Hill repeat winner. She may have skipped the first day, but afterwards made sure her sisters realized they weren't going to be the only picture in the paper.
3.Next...Ok all the rest of the girls. I cannot decide. Daphne KILLED the 10k. Ally Hartley take note if they lengthened the XC course you would be in dust. I just hope we can get some speed in those legs this fall. Hannah- newbie, who threw-up- It's ok. Multiple people get sick and run and then run some more. We'll work on the sprint/vomit finish. We are thrilled you are running this year. Twins. I think you need to run more, that said you can still out sprint anyone on this team which means you get a bonus. We just have to get you up front to make those sprints count for points. Cesley (did I spell that right?) you are my consistant runner. That's not in anyway a bad thing. I know where you are at, and I know where you fit. After missing hill repeats it was good to see you on the 10k. Ludi- applause!!! First day out running and you did a 10k. A full 10k, plus a warm-up. That's amazing. With a smile. It's going to be a great year! Should Bob be mentioned? He did bring fruit...so yeah. Thanks to BOB for bring fruit, weird jokes, and for being the actual head coach. If he gets the uniform samples in he might move up the list  ;-) (JK...you couldn't top Kade, at least not wearing an Oregon shirt).

So questions? Those who didn't show for 'whatever' reasons realize we know who you are, and you missed a totally 'legit' time. (Shout-out to Thode who only came one morning; we appriciate the effort).

Honorary roll- Jackson. Who did run more than...well anyone who didn't come. And did it all in dinosaur shoes.

Coach Mary

P.S> If you read this leave me a comment. :-)

3 year old...

Well it's official folks. The little boy is 3, (though he protest that he is still 2).We had the BIG party last night. Jackson- mine 3, Nolan- brother in law's little boy 1, Bethany- 2nd brother-in-law's little girl also 1. Somehow I volunteered to host. Not sure why since my yard/garden is in the worst state of anyone's, but I did. I spent the entire past week weeding. I should have taken before and after pictures, it was pretty impressive. Especially since there are now TWO areas in my garden that are aprox. 12ft by 5ft that are completely tilled with nothing in them (thanks in no small part to plants that didn't survive and weeds that had previously taken over). There are actually 3 of these areas, but the one is still covered in weeds. It's on the corner so I didn't really worry about it. It's nice to be able to see my tomatoes and peppers, and the corn. But I worked a lot of hours in the garden, only to realize yesterday that I hadn't touched my house. So in a furry I cleaned bathrooms and vacummed floors and overall power-cleaned what I could between making ice-cream, potatoe salad, 24 cupcakes and one double layer square cake. In the end it was a success. No emergency room visits, no food poisoining, no full on family arguements. It would have been nice if I could have mowed the law one more time...but at least it got mowed. Now that the party is over, it's almost hard to relax. I still feel the pressure to clean and weed more. Heaven knows all those baby weeds are going to take-off now that they have sunlight. But I've tried to relax and open Jackson's toys as he 're-discovers' them today. Enjoying the fact that my little boy is 3, officially 3. In two years I will be shipping him to school, and 10 planning a 'teen-ager' party. I'm not one to cry, but it is going fast. He's napping now, and I really just want to hold him and remember how wonderful it was to do that the first time. I'm not sure what 3's are known for, but I'm sure Jackson will give me a good enough lesson in the year to come.

4th of July Run/Walk

It's been a really long week/month. Somehow very little by way of projects have been finished. My excuse: It's summer! Weeding the garden, mowing the grass, planting the last bits of flowers, and planning the 4th of July Fun Run/Walk. The walk was a huge success..well except for running out of race bibs, and the course not being on target...but otherwise we had a GREAT turn-out!! So now I am ready to sew a little and try to relax...'try' of course, there are still weeds to pull and grass to mow. Not to mention Willowcreek running camp next week. I should sew while I can.

Also...I made a BIG stick of butter last week. I was super excited! It was actually somewhat funny. We had 3 gallons of milk to pull cream from. So instead of doing my normal 4 cups I went for 6. Umm...not such a great idea. With-in moments we had whipped cream all over the counter! at 9pm Jason wasn't exactly excited about the idea. I cleaned, moved milk around, let the mixer work while I put Jackson to bed, and wha-la!! Butter ready in 15min. I think it took longer to clean the kitchen. The one thing we have noticed about our butter is how hard it is. That's the difference in the milk fat of our cows. It's great for pie crust and biscuits, however a little difficult to spread on toast. Still tasty though!

Graduation Bags

Hello!! This is a much happier, much more 'crafty' post. YAY!! Normally on a working vacation with Jason, he goes to a meeting in a town a few hours from here, Jackson (the little man) and I tag along in the car; kiss him goodbye in the mornings, and go our separate ways. This trip started that way (innocently enough), Jackson and I headed to the Portland Zoo...AMAZING. We learned all sorts of things, of course all Jackson remembers is that one gray wolf had a hurt ear, and we could not see the giraffes because they were getting a new home. But anyway... the little man feel asleep before I was even out of the parking lot thus it was on to the FABRIC STORE!! Fabric Depot to be exact where I knew I would find a great deal and a variety of fabric. Sure-nuf! I got some really incrediable stuff, a lot of Laura Gunn designs (I LOVE her style!!), and some clearance stuff that went right along. The little man slept in the stroller 'most' of the time. By the end he was his normal post nap cranky self. Luckily the cutting man seemed to go with the flow, and tried to work around my screaming/crying child who was demanding I buy the ENTIRE bolt of coral minky! (Really. I did NOT put him up to it.) We made it out under a $100 and we were off to eat dinner at Red Robin by ourselves (boo to post-meeting dinners :-p) and for mom to get her sewing machine up to the room and get to work. I got lots done the next 3 days, and by the time I was dropped off at the State Track hotel my bags were nearly finished. So all in all our work-vacation really was work on both ends, and I think Jackson got a good mix of mom and dad time.

Without further delay here are two of the three finished products (I forgot to get pictures of one of the best ones).

My heart reachith out...

There are times I feel (maybe most of you do), that God puts things in your path; tough things, things you never saw coming. Today (yesterday actually) was one of those days. I coach high school track. It hasn't been the easiest year, for the team or myself. Before the season even started my Grammie died. I missed the first two weeks to be with my family. I left sunny warm North Carolina, where my heart sings as the red cardinal in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and came back to Eastern Oregon... a much cooler climate, and my heart filled with less singing, more like the quail clicking away in the field scaried of being too loud should enemies hear. I have already mentioned the depression, it was settling in before, and worsened by the loss. Yet for some reason I decided I should keep coaching. It wasn't easy. Cold weather, long hours, sweat...lots of cold sweat. But it was good, good for me, and I hoped good for the kids. Two weeks ago the injuries started. My top girl, out for three weeks (till districts) and then only *maybe*. Other kids fell in behind her, my 'team' was injured. But most of our 'core-group' was still together. Then yesterday my heart reachith out more than ever... one of 'my girls', my 'core-group', out for the season. But it was more than that...as it always is. I can't say much, it's not my place to share. And that's not the point of this post. The point is God put a stone in my path, and I hope I've done what He wants me to do with it.

It's tough being a Mom. In grad school I was always referred to as"team-mom". I thought then it was for all the pies and muffins I made. Looking back, maybe it was all the advice I dished out, hoping it would find some dirt and take root. I feel like that now. I've offered help, and tried to be there. I've prayed that God will open doors. Now I just have to wait for the rain and hope the seed takes root in this young girls life. That all my silly sayings the past 2 months will have sunk in. It's hard to trust what you don't know. It's called Faith. Reading this it all might sound a bit rambling and it is. But here's the thing, a young girl needs some prayer. And for some reason God put her in my path. My painful path of depression and loss, with of love of running shared. Maybe in the future I can say more, when it's not just my words. For now, thanks for reading...if your a mom, go give your kids a hug, and a kiss, and a "I'm proud of you no matter what." (and mean it). We never know the extent to which our influence reaches. We are all Moms and Dads...good or bad to those we are closest to. Hillary Clinton might have coined it, but she didn't develop it: "It takes a village". And it does. I wish I could tell you how it's all connected, I wish God would show me how it all works out. How the pain of one could bring happiness to another, but I can't. Something things are without words. If nothing else it has inspired me to be more faith-filled not just faithful. To smile to all, and to know God is in control.

Love...Mary

P.S. i got really pretty fabric today. I'm just not up for showing it off. Maybe tomorrow will be Sunny and filled again with the songs of cardinals.

Updates- Updated

Below was a post I created a few weeks ago. I'm making progress...
I've updated the blog.
Sewing machine is fixed...though I am still leaning towards a new one. At least new embrodery software.
Still no Civil War Journals...Blah!

House- flower beds weeded.
Goats were killed due to disorderly dog (see previous post).
Garden disced (husband), tilled (me), planted (me). YAY for garden!!
No butter made (you can't expect everything!)

Running-
28.46 - didn't kill 29min. But did break it.
Umm... does chasing cows yesterday count? If so I did 2x last week.

Sales-
I did sell some semen yesterday :-)

so not perfect. but getting better.
New goals? Not yet. Give me a day to be happy :-)


I need to get with the times... my blog is UGLY! I know I at least have a blog, but let's be honest, how many people are actually reading this? I've got to get more creative.
So my 'sewing' goal this month...clean up BLOG.
goal 2. Get sewing machine fixed OR decide on new one (may have to wait till May if the better deal is in Portland :-p)
goal 3. Work on stinking Civil War Journals. I'm already 3.5 months behind...ahhhh!!!

House goal:
1. Get weeds out of flower beds.
2. Get goats in pasture.
3. Till or Disc garden
4. Plant said garden to early spring crops.
5. Make Butter.

Running goal:
1.Simple: Race on Saturday (Kill the 29 min. mark)
2.Start running 2-3x/week.

Sales goals:
1. Sell SOMETHING!!...:-)

READY SET...GO!

Garden time

Garden is nearly all planted. Just corn, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins left!!!!

Muffins

Chocolate banana nut muffins... With cinnamon and vanilla! I am sooooo excited! I hope Jackson likes them

New Blog..

Well the Blog has been colorified and updated. I like it. The new background photo is one I took of our backyard when the neighbors had corn planted. The color scheme is more springy. And it looks more enthused. I think the spring slump maybe turning around... and that goes for more than just the blog. I'm feeling much better as well. No new quilts anytime soon on the horizon, but come Thursday I will be off with my trusted companions (aka Anna-Marie and Lori) to do some MAJOR shop hopping.
/http://www.treasureshophop.blogspot.com/

So Spring is finally HERE!

P.S.> I planted red potatoes, red onions, carrots, sweet peas, lettuce, and spinach the other day. AND pulled weeds this morning. Spring is certainly here to stay!